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Kitt attacks Cowen leadership

Former chief whip says taoiseach has confrontational attitude

BRIAN COWEN'S style of leadership and confrontational attitude in the Dail has been criticised by Tom Kitt, the former government chief whip who was dropped from the cabinet last May.

Kitt said Cowen's reign had resulted in poorer communication within Fianna Fail and a change of atmosphere in the Dail. "It's more confrontational," he said. "You can't always be calm, you're going to have boisterous moments and robust exchanges, but a calm chamber makes for better legislation and better debate. So that's a different style.

"[Cowen] is not going to listen to my advice, but I'd say he should keep an eye on that, the way he conducts Leaders' Questions, a key moment in the Dail."

Speaking on TV3's The Political Party, Kitt also referred to talk in government circles "of a triumvirate" between Cowen, Mary Coughlan, the tanaiste, and Brian Lenihan, the finance minister. "We need to watch our